Research Tip - Phillips - Wood Marriage Contract 1842

 There is a marriage contract in Livingston County that provides quite a bit of information on the family of Mrs. Mary Phillips (widow), formerly married to Allen Hodge and Mark Phillips. The contract was written 18 Apr 1842, just before the marriage of Mary of Livingston County and John H. Wood of Christian County, Kentucky, and can be found in Livingston County Deed Book GG, pages 316-317.

In the contract, provisions are made for Mary to keep the control and management of property acquired during her former marriage(s), including five slaves, Elijah, Anthony, Dred, Mary & Caroline. Also named are Mary's children by the marriage to Allen Hodge: Mary Louisa Berry, wife of Cuthbert Berry; Richard Hodge and James Hodge. Richard and James Hodge are to live with Mary and John Wood after the marriage and John is to clothe and school them without cost to Mary.

If your ancestor married more than once, be sure to check the deed books to see if there is a marriage contract. You may just learn some new information.

Originally published 29 July 2008, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog.

Expand Your Research Area

 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all counties had newspapers with obituaries for all of our ancestors?  It doesn’t always work that way, though, and we need to have an alternate plan. What would you do?  My suggestion is to expand your research beyond the county lines. Sometimes ancestors were known in adjoining counties because of their work or because their children lived in those counties.

The following obituary for a resident of Henderson County, Kentucky appeared first in his local newspaper[1] and then in a newspaper in Hopkins County.[2] The decedent was born in Livingston County, lived also in Crittenden County and had a daughter who formerly lived in the town where the obituary appeared. Oh – his wife was a resident of still another county. Confused yet?  Read the obituary and you will understand.

“Henderson, Ky.,  Sept. 1 – Dr. Joseph Anthony Hodge, one of the veteran physicians of Western Kentucky, is dead.

“Dr. Hodge was born in Livingston county February 2, 1829, and graduated at the Louisville University, class of 1850, and practiced at Marion, in Crittenden county, until 1863, when he moved to Henderson. He married Miss Susan Linthicum, of Muhlenberg county. He had been president of the State Medical Society and also medical examiner. He was the father of Edwin Hodge, Western Kentucky manager of the Imperial Tobacco Company. Mrs. C.H. Dishman, of Henderson, formerly of Madisonville, and another daughter survive. Wm. Hodge, a son, also survives.”

The lesson here is that if you don’t have access to a newspaper where your ancestor died, sometimes you have to expand your research area to find the information you need.

---

[1] “Dr. J.A. Hodge Dies From Stoke of Apoplexy,” Henderson Gleaner, Henderson, Kentucky, 1 Sep 1908,

[2] “Well Known Physician Dies at Henderson,” The Hustler, Madisonville, Kentucky, Fri., 4 Sep 1908.

Published 22 Jun 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

 

Went West - Josiah B. Hodge Family

Missouri was a favored state for people to relocate after leaving western Kentucky.  One of the families who moved to Missouri was that of Josiah B. Hodge, who left Livingston County, and joined pioneers going west.  What were they seeking? Inexpensive land? A chance for a fresh start? Or something else?  Let’s follow this family who made the move west.

On the 4^th of July 1816, Josiah B. Hodge obtained a bond to marry Julia Williams in Livingston County, Kentucky. Bondsman was Allen Hodge. The bride and bridegroom were both residents of Livingston County. [1]  Josiah B. Hodge and family were enumerated on the 1830 census in Livingston County, [2]  but, in 1837, the family joined the pioneers moving to Missouri. The family located in Cole County, but in 1849 they went into the dry goods business in Brunswick, Chariton County. [3]

The Hodge family was enumerated in Yellow Creek, Chariton County in 1850. [4]  By 26 June 1860, the family had moved on to Robertson County, Texas when they were enumerated on the Agriculture Schedule. [5]  Josiah B. Hodge also appeared on a voter registration list that showed he had been in the state of Texas 15 years and in the county 5 years. [6] That places his move to Texas about 1852-1854 and his settlement in Robertson County 1862-1864.

Josiah B. Hodge continued to live in Robertson County, Texas and appears on the 1880 census in that county. He died 30 May 1882 and is buried in Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Robertson County.[7]  His journey took him far from his home in Livingston County and even farther from his birthplace in North Carolina.

 

---

[1] Joyce M. Woodyard. Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol. 1, (Oct 1799 – July 1839), (n.p. 1992), 46.

[2] 1830 Livingston County, Kentucky census, Salem, Series M19, Roll 39, p. 12, Josiah Hodge, Ancestry.com.

[3] “Hodge,” Chariton Courier (Keytesville, Missouri) Fri., 9 Dec 1898, p. 1. Obituary of Robt. H . Hodge, son of Josiah B. Hodge, Newspapers.com.

[4] 1850 Chariton County, Missouri, Yellow Creek, Josiah B. Hodge, age 54, farmer born North Carolina, and family, Roll 395, p. 199b, Ancestry.com.

[5] 1860 Agriculture Schedule, Robertson County, Texas, Pct 5, U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1860, Ancestry.com.

[6] Robertson County, Texas  Voter Registration of J.B. Hodge on Texas, U.S. Registration Lists, 1862-1869, Pct. 1, Ancestry.com.

[7] Find A Grave, Memorial #331767956, Josiah Bryant Hodge, born 19 Aug 1794; died 30 May 1882; buried Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Robertson County, Texas.

Bastardy Case and Name Change

On the 18th day of September 1827 Eliza Bruff made oath before a Justice of the Peace in Livingston County, Kentucky, that she had been delivered of a female bastard child on September 14th,  1826 at the home of Hazle Leorns. [1]  She charged that Allen Hodge, labourer of the same county, had gotten her with child.[2]

In discharge of the warrant and, with William Pippin as his security, Hodge made arrangements for the support and maintenance of the child. Hodge agreed to pay notes of $25 yearly in 1829, 1830 and 1831 and also paid in hand to Eliza $29 and a note for $25 in 1828. The money was to be paid upon the condition that Eliza would agreed that the prosecution for bastardy would be dropped and would do everything within her power to have same dismissed. If she did so and the child lived, Hodge would pay the sums of money. If this did not happen, the notes would be void.  Each party agreed to keep the agreement.

The details of this agreement are not mentioned when it was recorded in the county court minutes. It stated only "by written agreement of the parties filed here in Open Court, same is ordered to be dismissed." [3]

Allen Hodge died before 8 November 1836 when Joseph Watts was appointed guardian to Julia Allen  Hodge, "heir of Allen Hodge, dec'd."[4]  

Eliza Bruff, who had charged  Hodge with fathering her child, was deceased by 6 Dec 1841 when "Cassander Bruff, heir and infant  of Eliza Bruff dec'd, being over 14 years of age appeared in Open Court and made choice of Jeremiah Crammer as for [sic] her guardian. " [5]  If Cassander was over age 14, she was born before 1827. Remember Eliza's child by Allen Hodge was born in September 1826.

Cassander/Cassandra  took the Hodge name as when she married Jeremiah Crammer just three days after Jeremiah was appointed her guardian, she gave her name as Cassandra Hodge.[6] No further record of Jeremiah and Cassander/Cassandra Crammer has been found, but the Hodge name continues in Livingston County today.

Jeremiah Crammer chosen guardian of Cassander Bruff

6 December 1841

Return of Marriage of Jeremiah Crammer and Cassandra Hodge

9 December 1841

Click on above documents for an enlarged view

---

[1] This surname is all but illegible. It could be Corn.

[2] Livingston County Clerk's Loose Papers (1827), Livingston County Clerk's Office, Smithland, Kentucky. Warrant served on Allen Hodge 19 Sep 1827.

[3] Livingston County Order Book G, p. 276,  1 Oct 1827.

[4] Livingston County Order Book I, p. 35, 8 Nov 1836.

[5] Livingston County Order Book I, p. 360,  6 Dec 1841.

[6] Kentucky, County Marriage Records, 1783-1965, Ancestry.com. Jeremiah Crammer married Cassandra Hodge 9 Dec 1841 Livingston County, Kentucky.

Published 31 Oct 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Three Generations of Hodges

Mention the name Blount Hodge to a genealogist familiar with Livingston County, Kentucky records and  you will likely receive a big smile in return. That is because Blount Hodge lived life to the fullest and left a legacy of going against the norm during his lifetime (1801 - 1877). There are all sorts of stories told about Blount Hodge, but in this blog I am trying to stick to what can be proven.

Hodge was twice married. His first marriage was to Ann Eliza Phillips, daughter of Mark Phillips, in 1823.[1] Then, on 22 October 1834 he married Mrs. Elizabeth P. (Rice) Bigham, widow of Robert C. Bigham. [2] Several children were born to Blount and Elizabeth P. Hodge, including Blount Hodge Jr., who died at age 14, and James Campbell Hodge, who was a lawyer in Smithland.

Following the death of Elizabeth P. Hodge in 1864, Blount began a relationship with Almira Wynder, his African-American housekeeper, resulting in the birth of at least two daughters.  Blount wrote his last will and testament in 1874 and added a codicil to the will just two days later.[3]  To his son, James C. Hodge, he left only $5, having previously given him money and real estate. Blount stressed that his son was to have no more and expressed the belief that his son was "fixing up plans to thwart and destroy this will & I hope to God the County Court ... will scout all such subterfuges if any should be attempted."

Almira Wynder had three daughters, Lucy Wynder, Almira Hodge Jr. and Lillian St. Clair Hodge, the latter two  acknowledged by Blount as his daughters.  To Lucy Wynder he left a house and lot on Charlotte Street, a lot on Main Street and 63 acres of land. He directed his executors to sell the property and use the money from the sale in schooling Lucy. Blount left 700-800 acres of land valued at $8,000 - $10,000 plus  other property to Almira Hodge Jr. and Lillian St. Clair Hodge.

As if this will was not already unusual, Blount went on the say that "there has been an attempt to take my life with Stricnine." He said he believed he knew who did it and believed they might try to destroy his will.

Whew!  Strong words.  When I first read this will, I thought maybe he was paranoid and just thought someone was trying to poison him. Then, I came across a newspaper article published a few months before Blount Hodge died.  It stated that Blount Hodge of Smithland, "who was poisoned a short time ago we learn  is out of danger... Mr. Hodge has but one legitimate child, Mr. James Hodge, a lawyer of Smithland. For years the old gentleman has been living with a negro woman, and has a family of children by her. Not long since he made his will, leaving the large bulk of his property to the negro, and little or nothing to his son James. This woman, when she drank or pretended to drink the poison with Hodge, was instantly affected by it, and commenced screaming and declared she was poisoned, while it was nearly three hours before the poison took effect on Hodge. The woman at once charged James with poisoning her and his father and satisfied the old man of the fact."[4]

Were they poisoned or not?  I will let you decide, but I did not find a court case regarding a case of poisoning and/or a contested will. The unusual happenings did not stop with the death of Blount Hodge in 1874.  Remember he had a son, James Campbell Hodge, who was a lawyer in Smithland.

James C. Hodge was good friends with Capt. John W. Bush, a veteran of the Union Army during the Civil War and also a lawyer in Smithland.  Hodge was returning from Paducah on board the steamer, Royal, in 1906. He had just stepped ashore from the gang plank, turned to speak to his son, also named Blount Hodge, when he threw up his hands and fell  dead to the ground.  His friend, Capt. Bush, who had been ill for about two months but was on the mend, died instantly upon hearing the news of his friend's death.[5]

One more event involving the Hodge family that made the news. Blount Hodge, the son of James C. Hodge and grandson of the older Blount Hodge, was involved in a "shooting affray" in Smithland in 1905. The ingredients in this "affray" included  river pilot Blount Hodge, Dr. F.G. LaRue and LaRue's "handsome young wife."  [6]  The shooting began in front of Grayot's drug store. After the first shot, which hit the victim over the eye, Hodge ran down the street with Dr. LaRue in close pursuit. Two more shots followed, one striking in back of his ear and the other hitting his leg at the hip.   Dr. LaRue surrendered, gave up his pistol, and said, "I have shot a man down on front street who wrecked my home." The description of this "affray" brings up a really vivid picture in my mind!

Blount Hodge later served in World War II, where he piloted seagoing Navy vessels from Evansville, Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico. He settled in Seattle, Washington and died there 16 September 1950, age 71.[7]                

---

[1] Joyce M. Woodyard. Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol. 1 (Oct 1799-July 1839), (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery, 1992) 72. Marriage bond dated 9 December 1823; no marriage return.

[2] Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol. 1, p. 133. 

[3] Livingston County, Kentucky Will Book C, p. 19, dated 13 August 1874 and codicil dated 15 August 1874.

[4]The Hickman Courier, Hickman, Kentucky, Sat., 28 February 1874, p. 3, originally published in the Paducah Kentuckian.

[5] "Lawyer Friends of Smithland Died the Same Day," Hopkinsville Kentuckian, 17 November 1906, Chronicling America, http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

[6] "Shooting Affray," Crittenden Press, Thurs., 16 February 1905, p. 1.

[7] "Captain Hodge, Livingston Native, Dies in Seattle," The Paducah Sun, Sunday, 17 September 1950, p. 4.

Published 12 July 2018, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Francis Marion Martin - Kentuckian and Texan

Livingston County, Kentucky has produced a number of men who have been prominent in public service, some who served in other states as well as in Kentucky.  Included among this group  is  Francis Marion Martin, who made his mark after leaving Kentucky.   He was the illegitimate child of a Miss Thompson and James Martin. In February 1837, James Martin officially acknowledged his son, then known as Francis Marion Thompson, six years old. Apparently, the child was living with James Martin at that time.

[1]

Francis Marion's mother is not identified, but is said to have died before the child was one year of age.[2]  James Martin died 21 January 1840 and is buried beside his wife, Elizabeth (Coffield) Martin in Slayden Cemetery #1,  Burna, Livingston County. [3] In his will,James Martin left all his property to his "son and only heir Francis Marion Martin. Executors of this will were William N. Hodge and James L. Dallam. [4]   Since he was only nine years old when  his father died and his mother was also deceased, Francis Marion lived with the William N. Hodge family.[5]

Francis Marion Martin "received only one year of formal schooling and served as a boat-hand on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, a store clerk, and a trader before moving to Texas in 1853."[6]   

Because Francis Marion was not yet 21 years old when he and Mary Catherine Hodge decided to marry, Blount Hodge was appointed his guardian to give consent for the license to be issued. [7] Blount Hodge was also bondsman on the marriage bond and W.N.  Hodge, father of the bride, gave consent for his daughter to marry. On 11 April 1849, Francis Marion Martin and Mary C. Hodge were married in Livingston County.[8]  The following year Francis Marion, Mary C. and their first born child, Allis, were living with the W.N. Hodge family in Smithland.[9]

In 1852, Francis Marion and Mary C. lost their second daughter, Lizzie, at just four months of age. 

Lizzie

Daughter of

Francis M.

& Mary C.

Martin

Born April

2  1852  Died

Aug 15, 1852   [10] 

She is buried in Smithland Cemetery.

One  year later Francis Marion sold the land he had inherited from his father and moved his family to Texas, settling in Navarro County, where some of Mary Catherine's Hodge relatives had settled. Francis Marion farmed, raised stock and eventually acquired 1,500 acres of land in Navarro County. 

Francis Marion first ran for state office in Navarro County in 1859 and was elected to the Senate. Then, when the Civil War started,  he served as a captain in  Company C, 20th Texas Cavalry, CSA.[11]  He returned to public life in 1878, when he was once more elected to the Senate. In 1882, while serving his last term as Senator, he successfully ran as lieutenant governor of Texas.  In 1887, he switched his affiliation from the Democratic party to the Prohibition party and the next year was a candidate for governor. He was defeated and left the Prohibition party for membership in the Populist party. He ran for lieutenant governor in 1892 and 189 4, but was unsuccessful. [12]

Mary C. (Hodge) Martin died in 1866 and F.M. married Angie Harle 22 October 1877 in Navarro County.[13] There were seven children by the first marriage and three by the second marriage.  The burial place of Mary C. Martin is unknown. Francis Marion Martin is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana, Navarro County. His second wife, Angie Harle, lived until 1947 and is also buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Francis Marion Martin's was age 73 when he died and he saw many changes during his lifetime. He was born in Smithland, Kentucky during the heyday of that town.  His parents both died when he was young and he was reared by non-family friends. As a young married man, he left Kentucky for Texas, where he preceded to make  his mark on that state.

  

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[1] James Clark, Governor. Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, December Session, 1836, (Frankfort, KY: A.G. Hodges, State Printer, 1837) Chapter 222, An Act to change the name of Francis Marion Thompson, Approved, February 3, 1837, page 113.

[2] Handbook of Texas Online, Worth Robert Miller, "Martin, Francis Marion," accessed 8 January 2018, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fma56.

[3] Find A Grave Memorial #41485155, accessed 12 January 2018. Also, conversation 10 January 2018 with Jerry Bebout, who submitted the Find A Grave information and photograph of the James Martin tombstone.

[4]  Livingston County Will Book B, p. 70, dated July 1839 and proven in open court 3 February 1840.

[5] Handbook of Texas Online, "Martin, Francis Marion."

[6] Ibid.

[7] Livingston County Court Order Book K, p . 76, 2 April 1849

[8] Joyce McCandless Woodyard. Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records Including Marriages of Freedmen, Vol. II (August 1839 - December 1871), (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery, 1994) 55.

[9] 1850 Livingston County, Kentucky census, Roll M432_210, p. 373B, dwelling 706, family 706, Ancestry.com, accessed 8 January 2018.

[10] Tombstone photographed and recorded18 November 2017.

[11] Handbook of Texas Online, "Martin, Francis Marion."

[12] Texas Legislative Council Research Division, Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature 1846-2016, (Austin, TX: Texas Legislative Council, 2016), Database and photograph, pp. 42-43, accessed  22 January 2018.

[13] Texas Marriages, 1837-1973, Database, FamilySearch, accessed 22 January 2018.

Published 25 January 2018, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tombstone Tuesday - Maude Roach Hodge

Maude Roach

Hodge

1869 - 1939

Buried Cedar Hill Cemetery, Princeton, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 21 June 2013.

According to Kentucky death certificate #29078 (1039), Mrs. Hodge was born Aug. 22, 1869 in Trigg County to Robert Roach and Virginia White.  She was married to S.D. Hodge.  Mrs. Hodge died Dec. 7, 1939 in Caldwell County, Kentucky.


UPDATE - Mr. S.D. Hodge and Miss Maude M. Roach married the 18th day of October 1905 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  Hodge was age 37, born in Crittenden County, Kentucky and lived in Princeton. He was an attorney and this was his second marriage. His parents were S. Hodge (born  in Livingston County, KY) and Kitty D. Hodge (born Crittenden County).  Maude M. Roach was age 37, born and resided in Trigg County and this was her first marriage. Her parents were R.W. Roach and Virginia Roach, both born in Trigg County.  When Hodge obtained the marriage bond on 17 October 1905, Wylie Jones was his surety.  This record can be found in Caldwell County Marriage Book 22, page 562.


Published 24 July 2017, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Two Unmarked Graves in Smithland Cemetery

When someone dies, at least three records are usually generated - a death certificate, a cemetery record and an obituary. There are times, however, when one or more of those records is missing.  Smithland Cemetery has a number of burials without tombstones so, in order to tell the story of those buried there, we must rely on other records.  For example, we can learn about the death of little Lena Hodge, the 10-year-old daughter of Harriet Hodge of Smithland, even though she has no tombstone. The story of what happened to her can be found in the Paducah newspaper.[1]

Lena and her mother Harriet Hodge went to Paducah on the steamer Golconda to celebrate the 8th of August emancipation celebration. After celebrating all day, Harriet and Lena returned to the boat to return home. The girl went to sleep, but soon  was missed. Her hat was found floating in the river, indicating she had probably gone overboard.

Lena's body was found near the wharf boat. "Evidence showed that no one saw the girl fall go into the water but several people heard the splash and there was a cry of 'Somebody Overboard! The remains will probably be taken to Smithland for burial. "[2]     It makes sense that she was buried in Smithland Cemetery as she and her mother lived in Smithland and a number of years later when her mother died, she was also buried in Smithland Cemetery. Unfortunately, Lena's grave was never marked with a tombstone, but our best guess is she is buried there.

Another person thought to be buried in Smithland Cemetery without a tombstone is Sterling Barner Taylor.  Sterling was born in 1869, just a week before his mother, Pattie Barner Taylor, died of complications of childbirth in Nashville, Tennessee. She had recently separated from her husband, B. Waller Taylor, and the child, who was named for his grandfather, Sterling M. Barner, was reared by his grandmother, Sarah Jane (West) Barner,  in  Logan County, Kentucky. In fact, Sterling B. Taylor was the heir to the combined estates of Benjamin Barner, Sterling Barner, Sarah Jane Barner and Pattie Barner Taylor.

As an adult, Sterling B. Taylor took his medical training at Bethel College in Russellville, Kentucky and  Ohio State University College of Medicine. Later he became chief surgeon of the N.Y. Central R.R. and was a fellow in the American College of Surgeons.

Most of his professional life was spent in Columbus, Ohio before he retired to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he died 21 September 1944. It seems strange that he would be buried in Smithland Cemetery since he only lived in Smithland for a very brief time after his mother's death, but two different, undated obituaries from the Columbus, Ohio newspapers stated that burial was to be in "the family burial plot in Smithland, Ky." One obituary also says that the burial will be "by the Isadore Branstetter funeral home." In addition, his death certificate[3]  states the body was to be removed 24 September 1944 to Smithland, Kentucky. To date, nothing has been found that there was ever a tombstone marking Sterling's grave or a newspaper notice of his funeral.

These are only two of the unmarked graves in Smithland Cemetery. There are many more that need to be identified and the decedents' stories told.

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[1] "Child Drowned," Paducah Evening Sun, Tuesday, 8 August 1899, p. 1.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Pinellas County, Florida Certificate of Death #18971 of Sterling Barner Taylor shows the body to be removed 24 September 1944 to Smithland, Kentucky.

Published 6 October 2016, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com

Tombstone Tuesday - Isabelle E. Hodge

Isabelle E.

Hodge

1842 - 1924

Mother We Miss You

Hodge

Buried Chapel Hill Cemetery, Crittenden County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 25 March 2015.

According to Kentucky death certificate #8605, Isabelle E. Hodge was born 12 April 1842 and died 28 February 1924. The informant was J.J. Hodge.

Isabelle E. Hodge's obituary appeared in the Crittenden Press 7 March 1924. It stated she was better known as "Aunt Ibby" and was born in Jackson County, Tennessee. She was the second daughter of M.A. and Betsy Long. Her first marriage was to Isaac Sisco in 1858 and they had one child, W. Sisco. Her husband died after contracting pneumonia during the Civil War. Aunt Ibby then married William J. Massey in 1864 and he also contracted the illness in camp and caused his early death. They had two children, J.C. and Luella Massey.  Aunt Ibbey with her children came to an uncle, George Long, in the Chapel Hill neighborhood in Crittenden County in 1869. She married John A. Hodge in 1878 and had two children, Jewell Jackson and Dona Francis Hodge. She was again left a widow 5 December 1899. She made her home with her son, Jackson Hodge. She had pneumonia and the flu in March 1922 and never regained perfect health and was practically an invalid for the balance of her life. She left four children to mourn their loss: Will Sisco, J.C. Massey, Jewell Jackson [sic], Mrs. Hiram Kirk and Jackson Hodge. Luella Massey died when young. 

Published 28 July 2015, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tombstone Tuesday - Blount Hodge Jr.

Blount Hodge Jr.
Born
Jan. 14, 1846
Died
Apr. 11, 1860
Our Darling Little Spungy

Buried Smithland Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 2010.

Blount Hodge, age 4, is found in the household of Blount and Elizabeth Hodge on the 1850 Livingston County census.

Tombstone Tuesday - Henry A. and Davidella Hodge

Father
Henry A. Hodge
Born Mar. 1, 1858
Died June 28, 1936




Mother
Davidella C. Hodge
Wife of Henry A. Hodge
Born June 21, 1862
Died August 17, 1930

Henry A. Hodge married Davidella C. Northern, daughter of Robinson Y. Northern and Davidella Patterson, in 1880 Livingston County, Kentucky. They are found on the 1900 Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky census and the census of Bexar County, Texas 1910 - 1930. Henry A. Hodge was an insurance agent for many years. Davidella's given name is unusual, but not uncommon in the Patterson family.

The Bexar County death certificate of Henry A. Hodge shows that he was the son of S. Hodge and Catherine Coleman, both born in Kentucky.

Davidella C. and Henry A. Hodge both died in San Antonio, Texas. After their deaths, the remains were taken to Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky, where they are buried in Mapleview Cemetery. The above photographs were taken 11 July 2012.

Tombstone Tuesday - Mabel C. Hodge

Mabel C.
Hodge
Jan. 1, 1894
Sep. 7, 1929

Buried in Smithland Cemetery. Tombstone photographed 4 February 2011.

Mabel C. Hodge appears on the 1910 Livingston County, Kentucky census in the household of James C. and Lula C. Hodge. Others listed in the Hodge household on the census were Corinne, Mae and grandmother, Vina Carson. All were listed as mulatto.

A Kentucky death certificate for Mabel C. Hodge has not been located. James and Lula Hodge moved to Paducah, where they both died, James in 1933 and Lula in 1943. They are buried beside Mabel in Smithland Cemetery.

Hodge Separation Agreement 1854

John A. Hodge and Mary Reese married 12 January 1842 Livingston County, Kentucky. Things did not go well for the couple, which resulted in the following very interesting document. It is recorded in Crittenden County Deed Book D, page 163.

Articles of Agreement made and entered into this 21st day of April 1854 between John A. Hodge and Polly Hodge, both of the County of Crittenden ... Witnesseth that whereas we have tried in vain for a number of years to live together as man and wife should do in peace but being now thoroughly satisfied that such cannot be we hereby agree to separate and not attempt to live together as man and wife agreeing and binding ourselves to stay aloof the one from the other and never again recognizing each other as husband and wife and the sd. John hereby relinquishes all claim to every kind or species of property which came to Polly in through [sic] or by her father, Elisha Reese or from his estate he also relinquished all right or claim to all the household & kitchen furniture of every description. He also relinquishes all claim to all the cattle now in the meat house save 100 lbs & Polly agrees and binds herself never to become a charge on John A. Hodge in any way or to look to him for any portion of her support maintenance or raiment in any manner. In witness whereof they have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and date above written. [signed] John A. Hodge, Mary Hodge. Witness: R.G. Stewart, I.H. Clement, Henry R.D. Coleman.

Civil War Letter from T.J. Flanary

Family letter written by Thomas J. Flanary of the 3rd Kentucky during the Civil War. Original letter in the possession of Nancy Weldon Hodge of Marion, Ky. Translation and footnotes provided by Marty K. Hodge, who retains copyright of this letter. Please do not copy without consent.


-Page 1-
Mr Wm Flanry
Camp Boon[i] ten Sept 11th 1861
dear sir I take the opportunity
of wrighting you a few lines
to let you no that I am
Stil here and well and hoping
you the same I don’t know yet
what us crittenden boys are a
going to do if capt meriwethers
gets his company which i expect
will be a cavelry company and if
the boys that come with me goes
in to it ishal goto we are furnished
a horse if we cannot get one
but if we get our horse we are alud

-Page 2-
twelve $ amonth and if he gets
and we don’t we alid pay for
him it don’t make much differenc
with me calvelry or in fantry
iexpect that the regiment will leav
in a bout too weeks if it don’t
leav in that time we will be in
a cavalry they have got to thouses
navyes for the cavalry it is
for one year the en listment
i rote you a letter the other day
not noing whether you would
receive it or not will wright you
a few more lines if we goin infantry
or cavalry iexpec we will go to padducah
general pillow[ii] with fifteen thousand
men is now on his march to
that plac when he gets there it
will be in his possession tell the
crittenden boys if they are coming
to this brigade it is time they
are coming tell henry cook

-Page 3-
that if he comes that he must
learn how to cook and if
any of the boys comes here to mind
how they can the oath that we take
it for three yrs or during the
war in the in fantry the [torn]
one year in the in fantry [torn]
are aloud forty days in [torn]
unless we are in battle some
of the men here are disheartened
a bout our pay but when our
officers gets there commission we
will be paid I have spent
a bout to dollars sine I have bin
here for nicknacks but that
is stoped for ther was no use of it
for we get plenty to eat her
James Vaughn is here he has had
the measles but is getting well
I would like to see you all
and per haps will shortly
So no more at present T.J Flanry

___________

[i] Camp Boon was located near Clarksville Tennessee on the Tennessee-Kentucky
border.
[ii] Brig. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow

Tombstone Symbols of Fraternal Organizations

Strolling through cemeteries in western Kentucky will reveal a number of tombstones in the shape of a cut off tree trunk and with a plaque-like emblem, which identifies the deceased as a member of the fraternal organization, Woodmen of the World. This organization provides life insurance for a small fee and originally provided  a free tombstone when a member died. That practice was discontinued during the 1920s, although some members continued to erect similar tombstones for some time. This organization continues to operate today and is especially popular in western Kentucky, southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana.

The tombstone of Ervin Davis (1894-1918) in Crooked Creek Cemetery, Crittenden County, Kentucky has a W.O.W. tombstone and plaque with the words "Dum Tacet Clamet." This translates to "Though Silent, He Speaks."

Another Woodmen of the World monument is that of John N. Lawrey (1857-1906) in Fernwood Cemetery in Henderson, Kentucky.  The plaque on his tombstone is somewhat different than others I have seen.

In Pilot Knob Cemetery, Crittenden County, can be found the tombstone of James T. Hodge (1845-1894) with the initials "A.O.U.W." This signifies that he was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the first fraternal group to offer death benefit life insurance to its members. The organization no longer exists. The organization had a several objectives, one of which was "to unite into one brotherhood all persons employed in the mechanical arts." Another objective was "to establish libraries, provide for lectures and other means of education."

Seen slightly less often is a tombstone with the initials, "F.C.B", which stand for Friendship, Charity and Benevolence and indicates the deceased was a member of the Knights of Pythias. This fraternal organization was founded in 1864. In addition to believing in a supreme being, members had to be 18 or older and could not be a gambler or involved in drugs or alcohol. Members also could not be a Communist or advocate the overthrow of the government. This tombstone is found in the Pythian Ridge Cemetery, Sturgis, Union County, Kentucky.



Copyright on text and photographs
by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG
Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog
http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tombstone Tuesday - John Berry Sr.

In

Memory of

John Berry

who died

Decr 28 1839

Aged 46 years & 10 mo.

Buried on a bluff overlooking Berry's Ferry on Hwy. 137 (Faulkner Road) in Livingston County, Kentucky. The tombstone is on the ground and broken into a number of pieces.  Photographed 27 August 2010 and submitted by Marty K. Hodge of Marion, Kentucky.

John Berry obtained a bond to marry Maria Hodge, daughter of Henry Hodge, 28 June 1815 in Livingston County. John Berry left a will, in which he named his wife and children. The will is recorded in Livingston County Will Book B, page 71.